Resy's New Dining Series Showcases Emerging Chefs Preparing Dinner Alongside Their Mentors, And You Are Cordially Invited To Attend

These dinners convey narratives of influence, identity, and legacy – all expressed via cuisine.

Credit: Resy

What if you had the opportunity to cook alongside your idol? For eight burgeoning chefs nationwide, that inquiry is not theoretical; it constitutes the essence of Dream Team Dinners, a novel series from Resy that pairs young culinary talents with the teachers, icons, and inspirations they have long revered. Each event becomes a singular cooperation, serving as an opportunity to observe legacy in progress.

Hannah Kelly, Resy's chief marketing officer, stated to Food & Wine, "Resy Dream Team Dinners highlight the chefs shaping the future of hospitality and the creative influences that motivate them." “Innovative chefs such as Yara Herrera, Tam Pham, Sam Yoo, and Demetrius Brown inspire us daily, and we are privileged to share their narratives with our guests.”

These are not only trendy meals featuring celebrity appearances. They are profoundly personal, chef-driven manifestations of esteem and collaborative artistry. In every place, the young chef appointed their collaborator—occasionally selecting a culinary genius, and at other times, a cultural personality whose impact extends beyond gastronomy. The outcome is a roster that appears both unexpected and genuine.

Each participating chef in the series authored a little essay or love letter to their selected collaborator, providing a unique insight into the rationale for the pairings. In her article regarding Martha Stewart, Chef Yara Herrera states: “Her voice and vision were integral to my foundation, and as a Mexican-American woman, it empowered me to create something of my own as well.” The complete compilation of writings is showcased on Resy’s Dream Team Dinners event website.

In a unique one-night collaboration at Hellbender, Chef Yara Herrera and Martha Stewart provide a culinary experience that embodies admiration, culture, and creativity.. Credit: Courtesy of Liz Clayman

“I never anticipated that my career as a chef would afford me the opportunity to cook alongside Martha Stewart.” “She is an icon and a paragon for women globally,” Herrera stated to Food & Wine. I engaged in a conversation with Martha, presented my thoughts, and she provided substantial feedback, which I appreciated. She implemented some tweaks, disclosed some of her preferred items, and would also be bringing ingredients from her garden. I am especially enthusiastic about the 'Martharita!'

In New York, Herrera will collaborate with Martha Stewart at Hellbender, while Chef Sam Yoo will partner with Questlove at NY Kimchi & Golden HOF. Bakers Hannah Ziskin and Aaron Lindell will collaborate with culinary icon Jacques Pépin at Quarter Sheets in Los Angeles. The series unites chefs and mentors from many generations, ethnicities, and disciplines, including Miami's Tam Pham and Kwame Onwuachi, as well as a very personal partnership between Masako and Ryoko Morishita in Washington, D.C.

Amidst the prevalence of pop-ups, residencies, and collaborations in the restaurant culture, Dream Team Dinners distinguishes itself by anchoring the format in a more intimate experience: reverence, creativity, and the opportunity to cook alongside the individual who transformed your culinary perspective. It serves as both a compliment and a transfer of responsibility.

Each event is conducted at the home restaurant of the emerging chef, with menus collaboratively designed for the occasion. Reservations are currently accessible through Resy. Like all significant collaborations, these dinners are ephemeral — yet their influence will last well beyond the last course.

Resy's Dream Team Dinners Schedule

• May 1: Yara Herrera and Martha Stewart at Hellbender, New York

• May 7: Sam Yoo and Questlove at NY Kimchi & Golden Hall of Fame, New York

• May 13: Chris Jung and Sean Brock at Maxwell’s Trading, Chicago

• May 15: Tam Pham and Kwame Onwuachi at Tâm Tâm, Miami

• May 28: Hannah Ziskin and Aaron Lindell collaborate with Jacques Pépin at Quarter Sheets, Los Angeles

• May 29: Masako Morishita and Ryoko Morishita at Perry’s, Washington, D.C.

• Date and Collaborator To Be Determined: Demetrius Brown, Bread & Butterfly, Atlanta